In this painting, Adrian Gottlieb hauntingly and beautifully portrays a troubling psychological moment from Classical Greek mythology. The treacherous Medea, who is in love with Jason, the leader of the Argonauts, is contemplating murdering and dismembering her brother, Absyrtus. Her gruesome plan involves scattering pieces of her brother on the road so that when her father, King Aeëtes, pursues the lovers for the return of his Golden Fleece, he would have to stop to pick up his son’s body parts. Thus, offering more time for Medea and Jason to escape. Years later, Jason betrays Medea by marrying another woman. Again, Medea resorts to the dagger and slaughters their sons for revenge.
